Feed mechanism for dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A feed mechanism for locating fastener attachment members one at a time in position for dispensing through a needle or the like, said mechanism comprising a feed wheel having teeth and a pawl resiliently urged toward the wheel, and said pawl slidably moveable across the side of said wheel into and out of the space between the teeth thereof. In addition there is disclosed depressible means for engaging the pawl to move it away from said wheel to permit fastener attachment members to be withdrawn from the apparatus.

United States Patent Bone FEED MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS June 10, 1975 3,797,722 3/l974 Bone 227/67 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, .lr.

[75] Inventor: Arnold R. Bone, Needham, Mass. Assistant Examiner Gene A Church [73] Assignee: Dennison Manufacturing Company, Attorney. Agent, or Firmk BFOIlStCin, RObCITS,

Framingham, Mass. Cushman & Pfund [22] F11ed: Nov. 21, 1973 ABSTRACT [21] Appl' A feed mechanism for locating fastener attachment members one at a time in position for dispensing 52 U.S. Cl 226/157; 227/67 through a needle Or the like, Said mechanism p 511 1111.0 B65h 17/22 ing a feed Wheel having teeth and a p rcsiliemly [58] Field of Search 227/65, 67, 95 9 137; urged toward the wheel, and said pawl slidably move- 226/34 35 52 7 127 12 129 132 133 able across the side of said wheel into and out of the 13 152 157 space between the teeth thereof.

In addition there is disclosed depressible means for [56] References Cited engaging the pawl to move it away from said wheel to UNITED S S PATENTS permit fastener attachment members to be withdrawn 3,330,207 7/1967 De Man 226/157 x fmm the aPParamS- 15 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures 2i-4 21-5 N20 22-1 23-3 zo-l 20-2 i 213.4 J 2} I I' l t I] I I I WRW mm:

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37 :5 .t PTLzs-z g i 3o l K \e '7' l 2a| k t y h Flo? PATENTEDJUN 10 I975 SHEET FIGBB IS-l FIGJA PATENTEDJUN I 0 I975 SHEET OTON m Om NLvm NhQ TR TNN FEED MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is directed to an apparatus for dispensing fastener attachment members which incorporates a new and improved feed mechanism for positioning fas tener attachment members relative to a needle or the like prior to the members being dispensed therethrough.

The apparatus of this invention finds particular utility in applications such as anchoring tags to articles of apparel, coupling layers of material together, coupling buttons or the like to coats and other articles of cloth ing and in many other applications.

The present invention provides an advantage over the feed mechanisms such as shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,103,666 and 3,759,435 in that it may be used without adjustment to feed different kinds of carrier supported fasteners. It may be used for fastener attachment members supported by a carrier rod such as shown in FIG. 27 of US. Pat. No. 3,759,435, as well as in FIG. 1A herein, or for fastener attachment members (commonly used for fastening buttons) supported by a carrier rod (such as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,470,834 as well as in FIG. 1B herein. The latter have a different spacing along the rod than the fastener attachment members shown in US. Pat. No. 3,759,435).

Thus a dispensing apparatus incorporating the feed mechanism of this invention may be used to feed fastener attachment devices supported at different pitches or distances apart along a carrier rod as will be disclosed herein.

Additionally, the feed mechanism of this invention is self correcting if the feed or sprocket wheel thereof is inadvertently advanced.

Reference may also be had to the following US. Pat. Nos. which show the state of the art: 3,650,452, 3,650,451, 3,652,004, 3,735,908, 3,734,375, 3,470,834 as well as the references cited in the aforementioned patents.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE In my aforementioned prior art US. Pat. Nos. 3,103,666, 3,470,834 and 3,759,435, automatic feeding of fastener attachment members is provided in the fastener attachment dispensing device or apparatus. With the devices in my aforementioned patents the feed wheel of the feed mechanism incorporated therein is advanced one tooth at a time in order to position the fastener attachment devices one at a time for dispensing.

These prior art feed mechanisms permit the dispensing of only fastener attachment devices that are spaced along a carrier rod with the same distance as between adjacent teeth of the feed wheel for dispensing. Therefore, if one wanted to use the feed mechanism to also feed fastener attachment members supported along a carrier red at a different spacing, replacement or adjustment of the feed mechanism would be necessary to accommodate the new spacing between fastener attachment members.

With the present invention this limitation has been overcome and the feed mechanism can now feed fastener attachment members of different spacings along a carrier rod.

In particular, where fastener attachment members are spaced apart a distance of X or 2X units along a carrier rod, and the distance between adjacent teeth of the feed wheel is also X units, the feed wheel in the preferred embodiment of this invention is urged to advance a distance of 2X units (two teeth) each time after a fastener attachment member is dispensed by the dispensing apparatus.

In this way, the fastener attachment members spaced apart a distance of 2X along a carrier rod are properly positioned for dispensing. While it would seem that the fastener attachment members with a spacing of X units along a carrier would jam the feed mechanism, they too are properly positioned for dispensing since in that situation a portion of the fastener attachment member itselfis utilized as a stop along with a portion of the apparatus to prevent the feed wheel from moving more than one tooth interval at a time.

The present invention also provides a new, improved and inexpensive means for selectively releasing a car rier of fastener attachment members from the appara- IUS.

Other features also result in decreased costs which make the feed mechanism of this invention attractive for use in a dispensing apparatus even if interchangeability of fastener attachment stock is not desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. IA illustrates in an enlarged view a plurality of fastener attachment members supported by a carrier rod wherein the spacing or pitch between members is X units;

FIG. 1B illustrates in an enlarged view a plurality of fastener attachment members supported by a carrier rod wherein the spacing or pitch between members is 2X units;

FIG. 2A is a side view of fastener attachment dispenser according to the invention;

FIG. 2B is a top view of the front portion of the dispenser of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along line 3A3A in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3B is a view similar to FIG. 33 with some of the parts being moved to the right of the Figure.

FIG. 4A is a partial side view taken along line 4A-4A in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4B is a partial side view taken along line 4B4B in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 5 is a view taken looking down from line 55 in FIG. 4B;

FIG. 6A illustrates in a side view, feed wheel, pawl and drive means therefore;

FIG. 63 illustrates the opposite side of the feed wheel, pawl and drive means therefore shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7 is a side view with parts broken away of the dispenser showing the operating parts thereof, the dot dash line showing the position of the parts after indexing the attachment members shown in FIG. 1B and the solid line showing the position of the parts after indexing the attachment members shown in FIG. 1A, (as used herein the term indexing means feeding one attachment member into position to be dispensed through the needle);

FIG. 8 illustrates in an exploded view the indexing mechanism of the apparatus;

FIG. 9 is an opposite side view of the cover member shown in FIG. 4A; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line l010 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE Reference may now be had to FIGS. 110 for a description of the preferred embodiment of the disclosure. The apparatus comprises a casing of two sections 20A and 2013 (FIG. 3A) held together e.g., by adhesives. by welding, etc. The casing is preferably of plastic material although metal or other materials may also be used.

In the nose 20-1 (FIG. 7) of the apparatus there is supported a hollow slotted means such as a tube or needle 21 having a mounting portion 21-1 and an elongated portion 21-2. Both of portions 21-1 and 21-2 are hollow and slotted so that a portion of a fastener attachment member (see FIGS. 1A or 1B) may extend outwardly therefrom as a portion is being pushed therethrough as will be described. At 21-3 there is provided a locking pin for holding the needle in place as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,435.

At the rear of the needle there is shown a knife 21-4 for separating fastener attachment members from the carrier rods therefore. (See U.S. Pat. No. 3,759.435 for a further description of the needle 21).

At 22 (FIG. 7) in the drawings there is shown a plunger for forcing an end portion of a fastener attachment member through the hollow needle. The plunger has an L shaped portion 22-1 which is supported by a slide 23 as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,435. In particular, the L shaped portion 22-1 is positioned in a hole 23-1 and rests within a well 23-2 of the slide 23. The slide 23 is mounted on channels 20-3 formed in the interior walls of the casing for reciprocating motion and is driven back and forth by a gear segment having teeth 25-1 which enter slide teeth cutouts 23-3. (See U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,435, FIGS. 8-10 for a further disclosure of the slide and its operation.)

The slide 23 has a tab or projection 23-4 extending downwardly therefrom and which is moveable back and forth to engage a link 24. The link 24 has engagement means or stop means 24-1 and 24-2 at either end of the cutout for making contact with tab 23-3.

The reciprocating motion of the slide causes the tab 23-3 to slide the link back and forth as it alternately engages stop means 24-1 and 24-2 to move fastener attachment members into position for dispensing through the needle as will be described.

The gear segment 25 is pivotly supported at 26 and supports a telescoping member 27 by a pin 25-2. The telescoping member is urged to drive the gear segment 25 counterclockwise by a spring 28 mounted in a cavity 20-7 formed in the casing. In order to rotate the gear segment counterclockwise there is provided a link 29 pivotly coupled to the gear segment at 30 and pivotly coupled to a handle 28 at 31. The handle 28 includes a finger grip 28-] (see FIG. 7) for permitting the user to firmly hold the apparatus when squeezing the handle 28 counterclockwise.

At the forward end of the apparatus adjacent to the rear of the needle 21, there is provided an indexing mechanism comprising an indexing. sprocket wheel or gear 35, a spring like washer 36 (FIGS. 3A and 8) and a pawl 37.

The indexing mechanism functions to move fastener attachment devices such as shown in FIGS. 1A and 18 one at a time into position at the rear of the needle for dispensing therethrough.

The wheel 35 includes teeth 35-1 and is supported for rotation by a shaft 35-2 supported in a bore 20-6 in casing section 20A.

The washer 36 is preferably bowed, acts as a spring and is preferably constructed of spring steel although resilient plastic bowed washers may be used. In addition other materials may be used for constructing the spring or resilient biasing means. Further, different configuration springs may also be used.

The washer 36 is used to urge the pawl 37 against the wheel 35. The pawl 37 as well as the washer 36 are supported about and by the shaft 35-2 with the pawl 37 pivoting thereabout. The pawl 37 includes a projection or edge pusher means 37-1 extending toward the wheel 35 and preferably having a substantially flat surface portion 37-11 for engaging the side of one of the teeth 35-1 when positioned between adjacent teeth in order to rotate the wheel counterclockwise. The surface 37-1] is also preferably substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft 35-2. The edge pusher means 37-] preferably also has another substantially flat surface portion 37-12 intersecting the surface portion 37-11 at a line. The surface portion 37-12 is preferably at an angle of less than ninety degrees with respect to surface portion 37-11 and most preferably at an angle of between 30 and degrees with respect to the surface portion 37-] l.

The surface 37-12 slides against the teeth 35-] as the pawl is rotated clockwise (backwards) pulling the edge pusher means out of the space between the teeth in order to position the edge means 37-11 into a space between different teeth. Thus when the pawl is eventually rotated counterclockwise at the end of the next dispensing cycle, the edge surface 37-11 will push a tooth 35-1 to rotate the wheel 35 counterclockwise.

In order to drive or rock the pawl 37 back and forth, the link 24 is provided with a projection 24-3 (FIGS. 3A and 6A) which is positioned in a hole 37-3 of the pawl. In this construction the pawl edge pusher means 37 is continuously urged towards the wheel 35 and skips or slides in and out of the space between adjacent teeth as it slides over the side wall of each tooth as the pawl is rocked clockwise. The pawl in moving clockwise depresses the bowed washer 36 when the edge pusher means 37-1 moves out of the space between the teeth and slides across the side wall of a tooth 35-1.

As the pawl 37 moves clockwise, the wheel 35 is prevented from rotating therewith as the edge pusher means slides up and then along the side of the tooth. This is accomplished by a cover 38 (FIGSv 9, 10 and 4A) having a resilient finger 38-1 with a detent 38-10 positionable in the space between the teeth 35-1. The cover is supported as shown in FIG. 4A between the casing sections 20A and 20B. When the wheel 35 is rotated clockwise, the force applied by the detent is overcome as will be described.

At this time reference should be had to FIGS. 1A and 1B which show fastener attachment members positioned at a different pitch or spacing along a carrier rod or support. In particular, FIG. 1A shows the conventional spacing of fastener attachment members normally used in attaching tags to articles or in coupling layers of material together.

In this configuration, the carrier rod is shown at 16-1 and the fastener attachment members are shown at 18. The members 18 are coupled to the rod 16-1 by necks 16-2 which are joined to one of the ends 18-1. Each of the members 18 also include a filament 18-2 coupled to end 18-3. As may be seen the ends 18-1 and 18-3 are relatively small in dimension so that the spacing between adjacent members may set at a small distance X (e.g., 080 inch) along the rod 16-1.

In FIG. 1B, there is shown fastener attachment members 19 of the type commonly used to fasten buttons or the like to fabric. In this situation, the end 19-1 are substantially the same dimension as the end 18-1, but the end or head 19-3 is usually made larger than end 19-1 so as to securely hold a button in place. These members 19 also have filaments 19-2 and are supported by necks 16-2 along the carrier rod 16-1.

Since the heads 19-3 are larger than the end 18-3 they have been by necessity usually spaced a greater distance apart (e.g., 2X) along the carrier rod 16-1.

At this time let us assume that the fastener attachment stock of FIG. 1B is fed into the slots 20-4 and 20-5 from above as shown in FIG. 2B. In this case the rod, the necks and the fastener attachment members (sometimes referred to as stock or fastener attachment stock) move through the slots, the necks 16-2 are pushed into the space between teeth. and the wheel rotates until end 19-1 is against the surface or shelf 20-6 and the interior of the needle 21.

At this point a full squeeze of the handle against the casing 20 causes the slide and plunger to advance to the left in FIG. 7 and forces the end 19-1 through the hollow needle while causing the neck 16-2 to be severed by knife 21-4.

During this part of the dispensing cycle. the slide tab 23-4 engages the stop means 24-1 and causes the pawl 37 to rotate clockwise to position the edge pusher means 37-1 (FIG. 6A) to engage a tooth two teeth away from where it was initially positioned (see FIG. 6A where movement of the link 24 to the left will cause the pawl edge 37-11 to move from engagement with tooth 37-1A to engagement with tooth 37-113).

Upon release of the handle 28, the slide tab 23-4 moves to the right of FIG. 7 and moves the rear of the link 24 to the right. The rear of the link 24 is supported between a member 32 located in a guide means 20-9 provided in the casing section 20A and urged upwardly by a spring 33 against a projection 20-10 also provided by the casing section 20-A.

Since the stock shown in FIG. 1B is being dispensed the handle 28 will spread fully apart as shown in FIG. 7 by the dot-dash line 100, and the indexing wheel 35 under urging of the link or pawl pusher means 37-] which overcomes the force applied by the detent, will move a distance of 2X (the circumferential distance between two teeth) to position the next to be dispensed fastener attachment member 19 in position for dispens- If we assume now that it is desired to feed the stock shown in FIG. 1A with the same apparatus, (in this case the fastener attachment members 18 are spaced a distance X apart along the carrier rod 17-1 the stock is again fed into the apparatus through slots 20-4 and 20-5 (FIG. 2B) and positioned for dispensing as heretofore described.

During the initial dispensing cycle, the slide will advance to the left of FIG. 7 as previously disclosed, and

pawl 35 will be rotated clockwise as previously described, and positioned as shown against tooth 37-1B (see FIG. 6A).

Upon release of the handle after the dispensing of a fastener attachment member 18, the handle 28 moves to the partially extended position shown by the solid line 101 and cannot move any further. Stoppage of the extension of the handle 28 occurs because the fastener attachment member end 18-1 (shown dotted in FIG. 7) engages the needle bore and the shelf 20-6 shown in housing or casing section 208 since the members 18 supported on the rod 16-1 are positioned a distance X apart. Although the spring 27-] is trying to urge the handle 28 to continue to move the slide and link rearward thus moving the indexing wheel 35 counterclockwise, it cannot do so because the next fastener attachment member 18 is already in position for dispensing. Thus in this case the pawl 37 shown in solid line only moves the indexing wheel counterclockwise a distance X (one tooth) each time the handle is released and partially extended.

The pawl 37 shown in the dot-dash line (FIG. 7) represents the extent of movement by the pawl 37 when feeding the stock shown in FIG. 1B into position for dispensing whereas the solid line represents the extent of movement by the pawl 37 when feeding the stock shown in FIG. 1A.

As another feature of this invention there is disclosed a new and improved release mechanism to permit stock shown in either FIG. 1A or 18 to be withdrawn from the indexing wheel at any time (e.g., the switching to the stock of FIG. 1A from the stock of FIG. 1B). This is accomplished by permitting the wheel 35 to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise by moving the pawl edge pusher means 37-1 away therefrom.

Thus the wheel can be rotated by pulling hard enough on the carrier rod 16-1 which will cause wheel 35 to overcome the retaining force applied thereto by the detent 38-10.

In this disclosure, the release mechanism includes means for forcing the pawl 37 and the edge pusher means 37-1 sideward against the spring washer 37 thus giving the wheel 35 freedom to rotate.

In FIG. 3A means for effecting sideward movement of the pawl comprises a depressible member 39 (see also FIGS. 38 and 8) which has a button portion 39-1 extending outwardly through a hole 20-9 in casing section 208.

The depressible member 39 also has a finger 39-2 for engaging the pawl as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B and moving it to the right as shown in FIG. 3B.

In addition, the depressible member 39 includes spring means 39-3 resting against casing member plunger guide 20-2 and which holds the finger 39-2 away from the pawl 37. Upon movement of the button 39-1, the spring 39-3 compresses as shown. The member 39 is preferably of resilient plastic material such as nylon, polypropylene, etc.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for dispensing fastener attachment members or the like including means for forcing a portion ofa fastener attachment member through a hollow slotted means or the like, and an indexing mechanism including an indexing wheel having a plurality of teeth. the improvement in the indexing mechanism comprising means for urging rotation of said wheel more than one tooth each time it is rotated.

2. in an apparatus according to claim 1 in which said indexing wheel is mounted on a shaft for rotation, in which said means for urging rotation of said wheel comprises a pawl positioned for rotation about said shaft and having pusher means for engaging said teeth to rotate the feed wheel, and resilient biasing means urging said pawl pusher means towards said wheel.

3. in an apparatus according to claim 2 in which resilient biasing means is provided which engages said wheel to prevent it from rotating except when rotated by force sufficient to overcome the force applied by said resilient biasing means.

4. in an apparatus according to claim 1 including means for preventing rotation of said wheel more than one tooth.

5. In an apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for urging rotation comprises a pawl having an edge pusher means which is positionable between teeth of said wheel to rotate same and which slides across the side of the teeth during positioning thereof in location to rotate said wheel.

6. In an apparatus according to claim 5 in which the edge pusher means of said pawl urging said wheel to rotate is substantially flat.

7. ln an apparatus according to claim 5 in which the edge surface means slideable over said teeth is also substantially flat.

8. in an apparatus according to claim 7 in which said edge surface means engaging said teeth to rotate same and in which said edge surface means slideable over said teeth are at an angle of less than ninety degrees with respect to each other.

9. In an apparatus according to claim 8 in which said angle is less than about seventy degrees and more than about thirty degrees.

10. In an apparatus for dispensing fastener attachment members or the like. said apparatus comprising an indexing wheel mounted on a shaft for rotation, said wheel having a plurality of teeth, means for supporting the shaft for rotation, a pawl supported on the shaft for rotation, and having a pawl pusher means and a bowed washer positioned about said shaft and urging said pawl pusher means towards said wheel.

11. In an apparatus according to claim 10 in which depressible means is provided for engaging said pawl and forcing it along the shaft away from said wheel to depress said bowed washer.

12. In an apparatus according to claim 11 in which spring biasing means is provided for urging said depressible means away from said pawl.

13. In an apparatus according to claim 10 said pawl includes edge means which is slideable over the side of the teeth and into the space between the teeth.

14. In an apparatus for dispensing fastener attachment members or the like, said apparatus comprising an indexing wheel mounted on a shaft for rotation, said wheel having a plurality of teeth. pawl means supported for rotation on said shaft, means for urging said pawl means towards said wheel, and means for engaging said pawl to move it axially along said shaft away from said wheel.

15. In an apparatus according to claim 14 in which spring biasing means is provided for urging said depressible means away from said pawl. 

1. In an apparatus for dispensing fastener attachment members or the like including means for forcing a portion of a fastener attachment member through a hollow slotted means or the like, and an indexing mechanism including an indexing wheel having a plurality of teeth, the improvement in the indexing mechanism comprising means for urging rotation of said wheel more than one tooth each time it is rotated.
 2. In an apparatus according to claim 1 in which said indexing wheel is mounted on a shaft for rotation, in which said means for urging rotation of said wheel comprises a pawl positioned for rotation about said shaft and having pusher means for engaging said teeth to rotate the feed wheel, and resilient biasing means urging said pawl pusher means towards said wheel.
 3. In an apparatus according to claim 2 in which resilient biasing means is provided which engages said wheel to prevent it from rotating except when rotated by force sufficient to overcome the force applied by said resilient biasing means.
 4. In an apparatus according to claim 1 including means for preventing rotation of said wheel more than one tooth.
 5. In an apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for urging rotation comprises a pawl having an edge pusher means which is positionable between teeth of said wheel to rotate same and which slides across the side of the teeth during positioning thereof in location to rotate said wheel.
 6. In an apparatus according to claim 5 in which the edge pusher means of said pawl urging said wheel to rotate is substantially flat.
 7. In an apparatus according to claim 5 in which the edge surface means slideable over said teeth is also substantially flat.
 8. In an apparatus according to claim 7 in which said edge surface means engaging said teeth to rotate same and in which said edge surface means slideable over said teeth are at an angle of less than ninety degrees with respect to each other.
 9. In an apparatus according to claim 8 in which said angle is less than about seventy degrees and more than about thirty degrees.
 10. In an apparatus for dispensing fastener attachment members or the like, said apparatus comprising an indexing wheel mounted on a shaft for rotation, said wheel having a plurality of teeth, means for supporting the shaft for rotation, a pawl supported on the shaft for rotation, and having a pawl pusher means and a bowed washer positioned about said shaft and urging said pawl pusher means towards said wheel.
 11. In an apparatus according to claim 10 in which depressible means is provided for engaging said pawl and forcing it along the shaft away from said wheel to depress said bowed washer.
 12. In an apparatus according to claim 11 in which spring biasing means is provided for urging said depressible means away from said pawl.
 13. In an apparatus according to claim 10 said pawl includes edge means which is slideable over the side of the teeth and into the space between the teeth.
 14. In an apparatus for dispensing fastener attachment members or the like, said apparatus comprising an indexing wheel mounted on a shaft for rotation, said wheel having a plurality of teeth, pawl means supported for rotation on said shaft, means for urging said pawl means towards said wheel, and means for engaging said pawl to move it axially along said shaft away from said wheel.
 15. In an apparatus according to claim 14 in which spring biasing means is provided for urging said depressible means away from said pawl. 